Jan-Mar, 2021

Looking forward, AURI will continue to evolve and adapt in order to further innovations that benefit the value-added agriculture sector.

This quarter, Ag Innovation News highlights board chair Ron Obermoller and his vision for 2021.

In the fourth year of the program, AURI selected two projects that will drive value for the food and ag industry and help AURI better serve its stakeholders.

Last year, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) in partnership with Dr. Claire Sand of Packaging Technology and Research (PTR) published a report titled “More Sustainable Packaging Solutions to Improve Consumer Confidence in Ground Beef.” Beef Checkoff dollars funded the project.

AURI, AgriGrowth, the University of Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, GreenSeam and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture partnered on a survey to better understand how COVID affected the food and agricultural supply chain.

On October 16, groups from throughout Minnesota celebrated the launch of MBOLD, a new coalition that brings together many of the state’s largest food and agriculture companies, research institutions and innovators to address major challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors.

Leadership opportunities and educational programs targeted at women in agriculture are growing. This expansion of support for the industry’s women is vital for building resiliency and diversity in Minnesota’s food and ag sector.

Late last year, Minnesota’s ag community saw the fruition of years of efforts to develop a new pipeline for the state’s soybean growers and other producer’s commodities. On October 28, the Ag Innovation Campus (AIC) broke ground on an oilseed crush plant and innovation center in Crookston, Minn.